HU CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Hampton, VA - Hampton University will celebrate Black History Month with a variety of events, speakers and forums in addition to commemorating the 50th anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education.

The English Department’s Calliope Literary and Film Society will have a panel discussion, "Protest and Politics in Poetry: An African-American Perspective" with Peabody Award recipient Bruce George, co-founder and former executive producer of Def Poetry Jam and renowned poet/essayist Louis Reyes Rivera on Feb. 10.

On Feb. 11, George, managing editor of “The Bandana Republic: Anthology of Poetry and Prose” and Rivera, co-editor of book “Bum Rush The Page: A Def Poetry Jam” will perform original poetry and serve as judges for the Calliope Society’s Poetry Slam Competition, which will be held at 7 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom. Admission is $5.

On Feb. 12, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in conjunction with the National Council of Negro Women will host a book reading and signing of "Sapphires and Satin: Beauty of a Black Soul" by poet/author Lisa Brown Ross. The event will be held in the Student Center Lounge at 7 p.m.

Commemoration of the Brown vs. Board of Education ruling continues as the second part of a three part series will feature a lecture by Dr. Vonita W. Foster on Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. in the Harvey Library meeting room. Foster was one of the 1,700 black students denied a public education between 1959-1964 due to massive resistance to desegregation on the part of state and local elected officials. Foster co-authored “Silent Trumpets of Justice: Integration’s Failure in Prince Edward County.”

The Great Debate: Assimilation vs. Segregation is part three of the series. The debate will take place on Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. also in the meeting room of the library.

Other Black History Month events include a tribute to African Americans in the military with the Black Film festival. Cinematic hits include “Antwoine Fisher,” “Men of Honor” and “A Soldier’s Story.” To conclude the month, a presentation entitled “The History of the ROTC Program,” will be held in the HU Museum on Feb. 29 at 12 noon.

Events are free and open to the public, except where noted. For more information contact the Office of Student Activities at (757) 727-5691.